Automobile clock



May I, 1929., R WATSON 1,712,013

AUTOMOBILE CLOCK Filed Sept. 22, 1925 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WATSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMOBILE CLOCK.

Application filed September 22, 1925.

This invent-ion relates to an automobile clock which may be used for indicating standard time or for indicating the running time of the motor. In carrying out the invention, 1 provide, at the back of the clock mechanism and in a suitable casing, a controlling device comprising a pivoted brake member, movable into and out of engagement with the balance wheel of the clock, and a plunger which, in one position of the clock, operates by gravity to hold the member in engagement with the balance wheel, and in another position of the clock, operates by gravity to hold the brake member out of engagement with the balance wheel. This plunger fits freely within the cylinder, the inner end of which is connected to a tubular stem or nipple which forms a pivotal support for the clock, and also serves as a means for connecting the cylinder to the intake manifold of the motor, through flexible tubing. The dial of the clock is provided with two series of index numbers, starting at different points on the dial, one series for indicating standard time and the other for indicating running time. By turning the clock into the position where the plunger holds the brake member out of engagement with the balance Wheel, the clock will operate to indicate standard time on one series of numerals, and by turning the clock through an angle of 180, the plunger will drop and move the brake member into engagement with the balance wheel, and the clock will then be normally stopped and will operate to indicate running time on the other series of numerals when the plunger is caused to move upwardly by the suction of the engine. The clock is preferably stem setting in order that the hands may be readily adjusted to zero, for indicating running time, or set to indicate standard time, according to the use which is being made of the clock.

One advantage of this structure is that the parts are enclosed in a dustp'roof casing and it is unnecessary to open the casing or to have parts projecting through the casing for converting the clock .from a standard time keeper to a running time indicator.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the clock in position for indicating standard time;

Fig. 2 is a back View of the same, with-the dust cover removed;

Serial No. 57,900.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the clock in positlon for indicating running time;

F 1g. 4 is a back view of the same, with the dust cover removed;

F 1g. 5 is a side View of the clock with the casing partly broken away, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the controller for the clock; and,

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the plunger and the end of the brake lever.

Referring to the drawing, a representsa clock having a winding and setting stem 1, and the dial 2 of the clock is provided with an outer set of numerals, shown as Roman numerals, for indicating standard time, and with an inner set of numerals, shown as Arabic numerals, for indicating running time. The Roman numerals run from I to XII, as usual, forindicating standard time, and the Arabic numerals commence midway between the V and VI marks and run from 0 to 11.

To the back 8 of the clock is secured a casingb, consisting of a shell 4 and a dust cover 5, and within the casing is a controller 0 for starting and stopping the clock and comprising a metal block 6, which is secured to the back 7 of the casing. Screws, not shown, passing through the clock back 3, the back 7, and into the block 6, secure these parts together. The dust cover has a central opening 5 and a threaded tubular stem 8 extends through this opening and into a threaded bore 9in the controller block. The opening 9 is connected by a passageway 10 to the inner end of a cylindrical bore 11 which extends inwardly from one side of the block, and near one end thereof. A plunger 12 fits rather loosely into the bore of the block and is provided with a flange 12, at its outer end, which seats against the block and forms a seal when the plunger is drawn into the cylinder by the suction of the engine, as hereinafter explained. The block is arranged so that when the clock is turned to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plunger will drop by gravity to itsseat, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the clock is inverted, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the plunger will tend to drop out of the cylinder 11.- A brake lever 13 is pivotally connected to the block at 14 by a stirrup 13, having a forked extension 13 which projects in front of the cylindrical bore 11, and the plunger is provided at its outer end with a centrally projecting pin 12, having a. head, as shown, which is spaced a short distance from the plunger. The forked end of the brake member straddles the shank of the pin 12 and on the outer series of numerals.

has a limited free movement between the head of the pin and the head of the plunger.. A wire 13, which forms a part of the brake lever, extends from the stirrup beyond the end of the block opposite the cylindrical opening, and the end of this wire is bent over at a right angle to its body portion and extends through registering openings, indicated at 1 1, in the backs 3 and 7, and into position to engage the balance wheel 15 of the clock. When the clock is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the plunger rests on the forked end of the brake lever and holds the opposite end of said lever in engagement with the balance wheel, stopping the clock. When the clock is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2, the plunger moves by gravity into the cylinder and rocks the brake lever away from the balance wheel, causing the clock to start. The lever is substantially balanced, and the plunger is of light weight, being preferably made of aluminum, so that when the clock is turned to the position shown in Fig. 4;, very light suction in the cylinder will cause the plunger to lift and remain in its innermost position. The weight of the plunger should be sufficient to cause it to rock the lever and start the clock when the clock is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The threaded tubular stem 8 serves as a means for pivotally supporting the clock in an opening bored in the dashboard of a vehicle, and also as a nipple for receiving the end of a tube 16, which tube, when the clock is installed, is connected directly to the intake manifold of the engine of the vehicle, or indirectly to said manifold through the vacuum tank of the gasolene system, which is a part of the equipment of numerous makes of cars. A clamping nut 17 and a spring washer 18 are shown for clamping the clock to the dashboard, and these will permit the clock to-be turned about the stem as an axis. The means for securing the clock to the dashboard so as to permit of the inversion of the clock may be varied, as desired.

In operation, assuming the clock to be set in the position shownin Figs. 1 and 2, and the tube 16 to be connected to the intake of the engine, when the engine starts, no efiect will be produced upon the plunger, which is already held in its innermost position by gravity. The clock, therefore, will run as an ordinary time keeper and the hands or indicators will indicate standard time For local use of the machine, the clock will usually be set in this position. When the owner of the vehicle is touring or driving between distant points and desires to have the runmg time of the machine registered, he turns the clock to the position shown in Figs. 3

and 4 and sets the hour hand of the clock to Zero and the minute hand to the topmost numeral, VI, on the series of Roman numerals. If the engine is not running when the clock is turned to this latter position, the plunger drops downwardly and rocks the leverv into engagement with the balance wheel, thus stopping the clock. Vhen the operator starts the motor, the suction of the motor causes the plunger to be drawn into the cylinder 11 and to rock the brake lever away from the balance wheel, thus causing the clock to start. The brake lever will be held out of engagement at all times while the motor is running, and each time the motor stops, the plunger will drop and cause the brake to be applied to the balance wheel. 5 Thus, the clock will indicate the actual running time of the motor, which is substantially the running time of the vehicle except where the vehicle is allowed to idle needlessly. The hour hand will indicate the elapsed time in hours on the series of Arabic numerals, and the minute hand will indicate the minutes by its position with respect to the five minute divisions on the series of Roman numerals, counting from the top- 05 most numeral, in the usual way. Thus, in Figure 3, the clock hands indicate the running time as four hours and seven minutes.

As the plunger has a limited free movement independently of the lever and is free fittin in the cylinder and is light in weight, and as the lever is substantially balanced, the plunger will remain in its innermost position in the cylinder under all working conditions of the motor.

The brake controlling device is applicable to various makes of clocks, and the clock] with this attachment may be used for timing the operation of machines other than internal combustion motors, providing the machine is capable of creating a partial vacuum in the cylinder of the controller. Thus, a small rotary exhaust pump driven by the machine and connected to the nipple of the clock will cause the clock to register the 5 running time of the machine, and if it is desired to register the running time of a vehicle instead of the running time of its driving motor, such a pump may be operated by the speedometer shaft or by any other 0 driven part of the vehicle.

What I claim is:

1. In a clock adapted for timing the operation of internal combustion motors, a cylinder and means for connecting the same to the intake of the motor, a plunger in the cylinder movable in one direction in response to the suction of the motor and in the opposite direction by gravity, and a brake member movable by theweight of the plunger into engagement with the balance wheel of the clock, in one position of the clock, and movable by the weight of the plunger out of engagement with the balance wheel in another position of the clock.

2. In a clock adapted for timing the operation of internal combustion motors, a cylinder and means for connecting the same to the intake of the motor, a plunger in the cylinder movable in one direction in response to the suction of the motor and in the opposite direction by gravity, and a brake lever loosely connected to the plunger and movable by the weight of the latter into engagement with the balance wheel in one position of the clock and out of engagement with the balance wheel in another position of the clock.

3. An invertible clock for indicating standard time andthe running time of a machine, comprising a dial having two series ing the operation of internal combustion motors and for indicating standard time, a dial provided with two series of index numbers commencing at different points on the dial, a cylinder attached to the clock and open at one end, means for connecting the inner end of the cylinder to the intake of the motor, a plunger adapted to move outwardly in the cylinder by gravity in one position of the clock and inwardly in another' position of the clock, and a brake member movable by the plunger into and out of en gagement with the balance wheel.

5. In an automobile clock adapted for timing the operation of internal combustion motors and for indicating standard time, a dial provided with two series of index numbers commencing at-difierent points on the dial, a cylinder attached to the clock and open at one end, means for connectin the inner end of the cylinder to the intahe of the motor, a plunger adapted to move outwardly in the cylinder by gravity in one position of the clock and inwardly in another position of the clock, and a centrally pivoted brake lever loosely connected at one end to the plunger and having its opposite end adapted to engage the balance wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afi ix my signature.

ROBERT WATSON. 

